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Herbs have long been used in Alternative Medicine to alleviate pain, help reduce sugar and cholesterol, and many other conditions. Herbs can be as effective as traditional treatments and often without the same side effects. Check out these 10 best healing herbs that can yield bigger benefits.

Turmeric: Ease arthritis
This spice used in curry, contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory that works similarly to Cox-2 inhibitors, drugs that reduce the Cox-2 enzyme that causes the pain and swelling of arthritis. Curcumin can help shrink precancerous lesions known as colon polyps, when taken with a small amount of quercetin, a powerful antioxidant found in onions, apples, and cabbage. Researchers at UCLA also found that curcumin helps clear the brain of the plaques that are characteristic of the Alzheimer's Disease.

Cinnamon: Lower blood sugar
Taking cinnamon extract daily successfully reduced blood sugar by about 10% according to the recent German study of type 2 diabetics. In another study of diabetics, it slashed cholesterol by 13% and triglycerides by 23%.

Rosemary: Avoid carcinogens
HCA (heterocyclic amines) levels are significantly reduced when rosemary extract (a common powder) is mixed into beef before cooking. Frying, broiling, or grilling meats at high temperatures creates HCAs, potent carcinogens implicated in several cancers. Rosemary contains carnosol and rosemarinic acid, which are two powerful antioxidants that destroy the HCAs. Not only that, it may also help stop tumors as rosemary extract helps prevent carcinogens that enter the body from binding with DNA, the first step in tumor formation.

Ginger: Avert nausea
Ginger can prevent upset stomach caused by motion sickness, pregnancy, and even from chemotherapy. It is a powerful antioxidant that blocks the effects of serotonin, a chemical produced by both the brain and stomach when you're nauseated, and by stopping the production of free radicals, another cause of upset in your stomach. It might also lower blood pressure, arthritis pain, and cancer risk as it helps regulate blood flow which may lower blood pressure, reduces pain, and it is also has anti-inflammatory power that help powdered ginger kill ovarian cancer.

Holy Basil: Combat stress
It is a special variety of the plant you use in your pesto sauce and is effective at reducing stress by increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline and decreasing serotonin. It also helps relieve indigestion and headaches.

St. John's Wort: Soothe your worries
Research has confirmed that this herb's power relieve mild to moderate depression and anxiety as effectively as many drugs--without a lot of the side effects. It doesn't only contain melatonin, the hormone that regulates our sleep-wake cycles, but it also increases the body's own melatonin, improving sleep.

Garlic: Lower cancer risk
High consumption of garlic lowered rates of ovarian, colorectal, and other cancers. It may also provide cardiovascular benefits as it contains more than 70 active phytochemicals, including allicin, which many studies have shown decreases high blood pressure by as much as 30 points.

Andrographis: Shorten Summer Colds
This does a great job of relieving upper-respiratory infections, such as colds or sinusitis according to a new research. The herb eased symptoms such as fatigue, sleeplessness, sore throat, and runny nose up to 90%.

Sea Buckthorn: Reverse vaginal dryness
It is very effective for hydrating mucous membranes and alleviating vaginal dryness. It contains palmitoleic acid, a fatty acid found in human skin that helps moisturize and heal it.

Kudzu: Curb problem drinking
A group of moderately heavy drinkers in their 20s voluntarily cut their beer consumption in half after taking capsules containing the Chinese herb. It more quickly allows alcohol to get to the part of the brain that tells you that you've had enough.

If you want to know hot to maximize the benefits of these power herbs to help with your health, you can visit prevention.com